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| US Open Cup talking points: Cosmos beat NYCFC in latest round of #NYSoccerWarz | US Open Cup talking points: Cosmos beat NYCFC in latest round of #NYSoccerWarz |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It’s going to be a good year for MLS sides | It’s going to be a good year for MLS sides |
| The US Open Cup has been through more format changes than it cares to count but in recent years, with MLS expansion, the fourth round has come to be something close in spirit to the third round of the English FA Cup. It’s the moment when the US-based MLS teams enter the competition, and in particularly entertaining years, when many of them leave it (the 2012 edition, when amateurs Cal FC dumped out Portland Timbers in front of their own fans, as only one of several shocks, remains a classic of the genre). | The US Open Cup has been through more format changes than it cares to count but in recent years, with MLS expansion, the fourth round has come to be something close in spirit to the third round of the English FA Cup. It’s the moment when the US-based MLS teams enter the competition, and in particularly entertaining years, when many of them leave it (the 2012 edition, when amateurs Cal FC dumped out Portland Timbers in front of their own fans, as only one of several shocks, remains a classic of the genre). |
| But this year, there was little in the way of surprise. There were some scares, and the exciting events in Long Island (more of which in a moment), but when the dust had settled the only non-MLS side to join the Cosmos in the fifth round was Charlotte Independence — who went on the road to beat New England 1-0 at Harvard’s Charlotte Field. | But this year, there was little in the way of surprise. There were some scares, and the exciting events in Long Island (more of which in a moment), but when the dust had settled the only non-MLS side to join the Cosmos in the fifth round was Charlotte Independence — who went on the road to beat New England 1-0 at Harvard’s Charlotte Field. |
| Beyond that, the only other MLS side to be eliminated were the team in the only all-MLS game. And it was quite a game… | Beyond that, the only other MLS side to be eliminated were the team in the only all-MLS game. And it was quite a game… |
| We’re going to have a new champion | We’re going to have a new champion |
| Seattle Sounders have won four of the last six tournaments, and were defending champions playing rivals Portland Timbers at their beloved Starfire complex on Tuesday night. Unbeaten at Starfire in Open Cup play until this game, the Sounders had a disastrous night that may yet have big repercussions for the rest of their season. Already down to 10 men following Brad Evans’ dismissal, Seattle lost Obafemi Martins to injury after using all their substitutes, then two more players to red cards, including Clint Dempsey, in a referee’s-notebook-shredding meltdown, currently being studied by whoever at US Soccer writes strongly worded letters about this sort of thing. | Seattle Sounders have won four of the last six tournaments, and were defending champions playing rivals Portland Timbers at their beloved Starfire complex on Tuesday night. Unbeaten at Starfire in Open Cup play until this game, the Sounders had a disastrous night that may yet have big repercussions for the rest of their season. Already down to 10 men following Brad Evans’ dismissal, Seattle lost Obafemi Martins to injury after using all their substitutes, then two more players to red cards, including Clint Dempsey, in a referee’s-notebook-shredding meltdown, currently being studied by whoever at US Soccer writes strongly worded letters about this sort of thing. |
| Related: Will US Soccer dare make an example of Clint Dempsey? | Related: Will US Soccer dare make an example of Clint Dempsey? |
| Non-MLS teams fall just short with penalties | Non-MLS teams fall just short with penalties |
| The virtual MLS sweep could have been a lot less emphatic had a few penalties broken a different way. Philadelphia were lucky to squeeze past Rochester Rhinos and MLS wannabes Sacramento Republic gave regional rivals San Jose a scare before bowing out 6-5 on spot kicks. | The virtual MLS sweep could have been a lot less emphatic had a few penalties broken a different way. Philadelphia were lucky to squeeze past Rochester Rhinos and MLS wannabes Sacramento Republic gave regional rivals San Jose a scare before bowing out 6-5 on spot kicks. |
| But arguably the most exciting game of the round took place at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC where Charleston Battery came from 4-2 down in extra time to draw 4-4 with Orlando City (with four penalties awarded over the 120 minutes). Not that the excitement ended there as it took 10 rounds of penalties for a relieved Orlando to finally see Charleston off. | But arguably the most exciting game of the round took place at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC where Charleston Battery came from 4-2 down in extra time to draw 4-4 with Orlando City (with four penalties awarded over the 120 minutes). Not that the excitement ended there as it took 10 rounds of penalties for a relieved Orlando to finally see Charleston off. |
| Could an MLS side be beaten on penalties? Yes. It took the Cosmos to show how it’s done. | Could an MLS side be beaten on penalties? Yes. It took the Cosmos to show how it’s done. |
| The “New Yorks” are at it again | The “New Yorks” are at it again |
| Last year the New York Red Bulls were dumped out of the US Open Cup by New York Cosmos who gleefully dismantled their MLS rivals. Now under new management in the shape of the four-time Open Cup winner Jesse Marsch, the Red Bulls were in no danger of taking the tournament lightly this year, and so it proved, as they rolled over a poor Atlanta Silverbacks side 3-0. | Last year the New York Red Bulls were dumped out of the US Open Cup by New York Cosmos who gleefully dismantled their MLS rivals. Now under new management in the shape of the four-time Open Cup winner Jesse Marsch, the Red Bulls were in no danger of taking the tournament lightly this year, and so it proved, as they rolled over a poor Atlanta Silverbacks side 3-0. |
| Possibly they were relieved not to be dealing with the Cosmos again. That dubious pleasure belonged to new boys New York City FC, who really enjoyed their first ever hour of Open Cup soccer, then had rather less fun as the novelty wore off. From 2-0 NYCFC were pegged back to 2-2 by a 90th minute Cosmos goal, missed a penalty in extra time, then missed a few more in the shootout to delight the Cosmos fans at Shuart Stadium as they won the latest battle in the #NYSoccerWarz. | Possibly they were relieved not to be dealing with the Cosmos again. That dubious pleasure belonged to new boys New York City FC, who really enjoyed their first ever hour of Open Cup soccer, then had rather less fun as the novelty wore off. From 2-0 NYCFC were pegged back to 2-2 by a 90th minute Cosmos goal, missed a penalty in extra time, then missed a few more in the shootout to delight the Cosmos fans at Shuart Stadium as they won the latest battle in the #NYSoccerWarz. |
| Sometimes there’s just no romance of the cup | Sometimes there’s just no romance of the cup |
| We’re talking to you OKC Energy FC — you and your 4-1 defeat against FC Dallas; we’re talking to you Colorado Springs Switchbacks — you and your ungainly name and 4-1 loss to the trimly monicker-ed Colorado Rapids. Favorites Houston won the battle of Texas as they beat Austin Aztex 2-0. Elsewhere hosting their tie didn’t help Richmond Kickers get past Columbus Crew (1-3) or Pittsburgh Riverhounds beat 2013 champs DC United. | We’re talking to you OKC Energy FC — you and your 4-1 defeat against FC Dallas; we’re talking to you Colorado Springs Switchbacks — you and your ungainly name and 4-1 loss to the trimly monicker-ed Colorado Rapids. Favorites Houston won the battle of Texas as they beat Austin Aztex 2-0. Elsewhere hosting their tie didn’t help Richmond Kickers get past Columbus Crew (1-3) or Pittsburgh Riverhounds beat 2013 champs DC United. |
| And if Seattle Sounders 2 hoped to earn some revenge for their main team crashing out in such ugly fashion, well, they travelled to MLS side Real Salt Lake and…lost. 2-1. So there’s that. | And if Seattle Sounders 2 hoped to earn some revenge for their main team crashing out in such ugly fashion, well, they travelled to MLS side Real Salt Lake and…lost. 2-1. So there’s that. |
| Meanwhile after what had come to feel like the annual pilgrimage to Carolina to be beaten by the gleeful Railhawks in previous editions of the Cup, LA Galaxy had the luxury of staying at home to face the last amateur side in the competition, PSA Elite. The Galaxy showed their gratitiude by going easy on the PSA side and taking off Robbie Keane as soon as he’d rounded off his hat trick to make it 5-1. It finished 6-1. Let that be a lesson to PSA for scoring first... | |
| They really like cup soccer in Kansas City | They really like cup soccer in Kansas City |
| Sporting KC won the 2012 Open Cup by ending the Sounders’ dream of four straight titles in the final at Sporting Park. It was the first trophy the relaunched Sporting team had won at their new home and would lay a foundation of self-belief that would result in an MLS Cup the following year, and an ongoing run of home sellouts at one of the best stadiums in the league, in what was once one of its worst markets. | Sporting KC won the 2012 Open Cup by ending the Sounders’ dream of four straight titles in the final at Sporting Park. It was the first trophy the relaunched Sporting team had won at their new home and would lay a foundation of self-belief that would result in an MLS Cup the following year, and an ongoing run of home sellouts at one of the best stadiums in the league, in what was once one of its worst markets. |
| Not any more. While the Open Cup is not as well known or understood as it should be in US Soccer circles, 19,298, a record for this round in the modern era, showed up on Tuesday night as Sporting won the battle with St Louis, thanks to a second half Graham Zusi goal. As for the team whose attendance record Sporting KC broke, that would be Sporting KC, whose previous mark of 15,981 was set against Orlando City in 2013. | Not any more. While the Open Cup is not as well known or understood as it should be in US Soccer circles, 19,298, a record for this round in the modern era, showed up on Tuesday night as Sporting won the battle with St Louis, thanks to a second half Graham Zusi goal. As for the team whose attendance record Sporting KC broke, that would be Sporting KC, whose previous mark of 15,981 was set against Orlando City in 2013. |
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